Missing out by not trying HKS loaders, and only using Comp I's?

Thanks everyone for the replies so far. Seems maybe I'm not missing much, but I may give the HKS a try anyway, just to get a chance to know what I don't know yet.

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Originally Posted by Crazy Dane

I do have 2 Ruger branded Pachmayrs for my SP101, (don't judge I had $100 Ruger bucks to spend so I got 2 of every speed loader for the SP). I really want to like these. They are solid built all aluminum, hold the rounds in with a vice like grip, knob is bigger than HKS which I like, not round so they don't roll away. The cons, more expensive and they release counterclockwise which is backward to HKS.

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I thought maybe the Pachmayr loaders would be "the thing" ... they came out not long after I started my J-frame shooting. Initial reports were mixed, with many people reporting problems with them. I ended up not bothering to try them either. I have sometimes wondered if they ever improved them in the meantime.

When I got mine I had one of the same complaints found in the reviews, knob hard to turn. I found somewhere, I believe in the instructions that came with, they needed to be lubed. They freed up nicely.
The other complaints I seen were "they hit my grips" and "the o ring broke" well sand your grips and replace the o ring. The one I don't believe is "it fell apart." Its held together by an internal spring clip and you need tools to remove it.

I think the biggest mistake in these is the release is backwards to what was already on the market. Even knowing this it gets me almost every time when I try to use them at speed.

If all I had were Pachs, I don't think I would be displeased.

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Originally Posted by Crazy Dane

I think the biggest mistake in these is the release is backwards to what was already on the market. Even knowing this it gets me almost every time when I try to use them at speed.

If all I had were Pachs, I don't think I would be displeased.

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Yeah, I thought that was an interesting decision in design as well. They look like really well made loaders... and I somewhat like the idea of something that isn't round and likely to roll away... or turn into a rollerskate under foot after a reload.

I wonder if Pach will ever make a .32 version if these new guns become more popular.

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Originally Posted by jeep45238

I have a supremely strong preference to push loaders and loath twisties. [snipped]

I loath twisties enough to prefer strips over them.

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Same...

I have used both HKS and Safariland. I have had good luck with both while my experience is greater with the HKS. I used the HKS in the academy as well (reference to the earlier post). I have never had either accidently release their rounds in pocket or pouch (most used) carry. I find the Safariland maybe slightly faster but not by much since I am very used to using the HKS models.

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Originally Posted by WDR

Am I missing out on anything by only using Safariland Comp I's in my J-frames.... Should I give HKS loaders a try? I've had good luck with the Comp I's, and have a small pile of them around. HKS loaders can be had for around the same price, but I've never tried them.

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When Safariland loaders work properly, I find them to be superior to HKS loaders. Having the cartridges release by inserting them to the charge holes and pushing the loader in is faster than having to shift my grip and turn the release knob. So as long as the Safariland loaders you have work, I'd say no, you're not missing out on anything. Of course the HKS loaders are cheap enough that you can get one just to try it out for funsies.

My problem is that the Comp I's for my Redhawk are super stiff and sometimes fail to release the cartridges completely, and Safariland never made their loaders for .45 Colt. So I'm stuck using both types of loaders. Oh well. Still scored first place in the last IDPA match I shot with my Mountain Gun using HKS loaders. Of course, I was also the only revolver shooter in the entire match... :p

I did buy an HKS 32-J speedloader for my Ruger LCRX in .327 Federal Magnum and it seems to work OK, given the stock grips.
I do seem to be more competent although slower, with a 9mm speed-strip.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1015129410?pid=298637

Speedbeez has a .327 Fed Mag speedloader for the Ruger LCR which, conversely, should work with the 432UC, but I didn't (yet) buy one and won't even have my 432UC until next week.
https://www.speedbeez.com/product/sp...magnum-6-shot/

For .38/.357, I've to HKS, Safariland, 5Star, Speedbeez, and even an SL Variant. As someone else mentioned, they'll all work but will depend on which grips and one's preference or twist knobs or push-release mechanisms. I too, have had a push-release type let go of all the rounds while carrying in a pocket. I also had some other old-school brand (Dade Machine Screw Products), now discontinued, which had some type of coiled spring wrapped around the circumference of the loader. Being an old cop, I gave these away to an even older cop who was more familiar with them, but I think the existing spring was just too worn or week for my liking.

I do like the ease of loading and locking the rounds into the loader with a twist knob. Also, depending on the loader, some may fit better in my pocket and not be too large.

A 9mm speed strip holds .32 S&W/.32 H&R Mag/.327 Federal Mag just fine or Tuff makes a .32/.327 version marked as such:
https://www.amazon.com/Products-Quic...s%2C199&sr=8-7

or

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1015338074?pid=518022

It just occurred to me that I have experienced one significant advantage of the HKS loaders over the Safariland. I had one work revolver that had a set of no name grips that caused the speedloader to hang up about halfway to being inserted. The HKS worked while the Safariland did not quite get far enough to reach the release.

Post 1,
Follow-up to my earlier post, now that I have my 432UC and shot it again today (2nd time).
The speed strip worked fine, loading 2 rounds at a time, whether I left a space inbetween each pair of rounds or all 6 in a row.

The HKS 32J worked ok, but with helped if I wiggled the speedloader while twisting the HKS's knob. I couldn't get the speedloader all the way down onto the cylinder, btw. Perhaps the grips, which I like, are a bit too fat in that area, as I've found with most speedloaders and my .38Special J-frames.

I did order a couple of 5Star brand .32 speedloaders and I'll see how those work on both my S&W 432UC and my Ruger LCRX in .327FedMag.

Update to my Post 29,

I received the 5Star "J2-327" speedloaders today and I cannot recommend them.

My two 5Star J2-327 worked ok with .327Federal Magnum ammo but the Hornady Critical Defense brand .32H&R Magnum ammo and Lost River .32 HR ammo, both somehow "torque" just a bit too much and bind up the speedloader.

I can make them work only if I hold the speedloader relatively still or vertical over the cylinder. Then I can twist the knob (counter-clockwise to release; opposite from the HKS speedloaders). Holding-the-speedloader over the cylinder isn't how I've used every other speed loader on the market and is an extra, convoluted method of dropping the rounds from the speedloader into the cylinder.

Federal .32H&R Mag "Personal Defense" ammo seems to allow twisting the knob without problem as did Federal's Personal Defense .327 Federal Mag.

I'll write a brief email/note to 5Star letting them know of my issue/problem with .32H&R Mag ammo other than Federal brand.

If only Federal ammo/brass is used, then the user probably won't notice any problems.

I'll only recommend 9mm/.32 speed strips and HKS speedloaders right now, otherwise. I've not bought a Speedbeez in .327, btw, due to its relatively high price, although it might work.
https://www.speedbeez.com/product/sp...magnum-6-shot/